A wonderfully stark, primitive mask from Nepal's Eastern middle hills.
Originating in a shamano-animist context, with a distinctive
long visage that has a simple but striking effect when
displayed. The fangs reveal this is a "chudel" or "mashan",
which are demonic vampire like entities that sometimes come into
conflict with humanity. This is a popular theme with the
shamanic masks in the eastern middle hills. We see the
remnants of a moustache as well, though the hair is long gone
now. The shape of the face is fantastic with the wood "wrapping"
around the wearer's face, with its natural concave form.
Condition is very good though the piece has advanced age, being
from the early years of the 20th century.